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Bronco Bill's Lament

Don McLean

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Bronco Bill's Lament

I coulda been most anything I put my mind to be,

But a cowboy's life was the only life for me.

It's a strong man's occupation ridin' herd and livin' free,

But strong men often fail

Where shrewd men can prevail,

I'm an old man now with nothin' left to say,

But oh god how I worked my youth away.

Well you may not recognise my face, I used to be a star,

A cowboy hero known both near and far.

I perched upon a silver mount and sang with my guitar,

But the studio of course,

owned my saddle and my horse,

But that six-gun on the wall belongs to me,

Oh god I can't live a memory.

You know I'd like to put my finger on that trigger once again,

And point that gun at all the prideful men.

All the voyeurs and the lawyers who can pull a fountain pen,

And put you where they choose,

With the language that they use,

And enslave you till you work your youth away,

Oh god how I worked my youth away.

Whoopee ty yioh

Whoopee ty yi ay,

One man's work is another man's play

Oh god how I worked my youth away.

You see I always liked the notion of a cowboy fighting crime,

This photograph was taken in my prime,

I could beat those desperados but there's no sense fightin' time,

But the singin' was a ball

Cause I'm not musical at all,

I moved my lips to someone else's voice.

Repeat verse 1

LanguageEnglish
Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Bronco Bill's Lament by Don McLean is a reflective and melancholic song that delves into themes of nostalgia, disillusionment, and the passage of time. The song tells the story of Bronco Bill, a once-celebrated cowboy who now feels forgotten and out of place in the modern world. The poignant lyrics express Bronco Bill's lament for the loss of the old West and his struggle to find purpose in a rapidly changing society. Key moments include Bill reminiscing about his past glories and expressing his sadness over being replaced by modernity, evoking a sense of poignancy and longing for a bygone era.

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